Crime & Safety

Protocol for Seeking Death Penalty is Focus of Bombing Suspect Hearing

Lawyers representing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are expected in federal court Monday to discuss timeline and procedure for prosecutors to seek death penalty.

Written by Liz Taurasi

Lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be in federal court Monday morning to discuss the timeline and procedure for prosecutors to decide whether or not to seek the death penalty.

The Associated Press is reporting a joint status report filed in court says the defense wants the court to address “the death penalty protocol.”

    In June, a 70-page indictment came down against Tsarnaev, which had 30 counts, and included charges of using weapons of mass destruction and murder in the Boston Marathon Bombings that killed three people and injured more than 260 others. He’s also charged with the murder of MIT Officer and Wilmington native Sean Collier.

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    Seventeen of the charges against Tsarnaev carry a potential death penalty sentence, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said back in late June.

    Massachusetts does not have the death penalty.

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    Earlier this month, three college classmates of Tsarnaev were arraigned in federal court. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students faced charges that claimed suspect Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov destroyed or concealed a laptop and backpack filled with fireworks. Third suspect Robel Phillipos was charged with lying to federal officials.


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